Stereotype plate finishing machine



March 2, 1954 c. l.. RICARDS ET AL STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE ned oct. 1, 194s 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original CHARLES L. EVC/7F55 /5/0 0R TOR/VBE/ PAUL' L. TOLL/60N INVENTOR ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 c. RICARDS ET AL STER'EOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE original Filed oct. 1, 194s 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS BY TVM, 36%4 3am/ZH r Em ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 c. l.. RICARDS ET AL 2,670,662

STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. l. 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet. 3

CHARLES RICH/P05 /5/00/2 TURA/BERG PAZ/L L. TO/SOA/ INVENTORS 2ML l M v'ww ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 C. L. RICARS ET AL 2,670,662

STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. l, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ffm L. rou/50N INVENTORS 'Bm ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 c. RICARDS ETAL STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACH-INE .8 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Original Filed Oct. 1, 1948 CHHRLES L fil/09H05 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 c. L. RlcAnos ETAL 2,670,662

sTEREoTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE originai Filed oct. 1. 194e a sheets-sheet e /5/00@ 70m/55p@ Pfau Tou/50N INVENToRs March 2, 1954 c. l.. RICARDS ET AL TEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. l. 1948 f; i 93 a5 y; faz f4 i 8 Sham-Sheet 7 PAUL L. rou/50N INVENTORS ATTO RNEYS March 2, 1954 3- RIGARDS ETAL 2,670,662

STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE Original Filed Oct. l, 1948 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 c/Mm f5 LMC/2R05 /5/0 of? Tae/vaar@ PAIA L TUM/50N lNvl-:NToRs BY pm, @MMBW ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE STEREOTYPE PLATE FINISHING MACHINE poration of Virginia Original application October 1, 1948, Serial No. 52,323. Divided and this application March 14, 1950, Serial No. 149,556

(Cl. S30-59) 3 Claims. 1

'Ihis invention relates to improvements in stereotype plate nishing machines and especially to an improved machine for milling tension lockup pockets in the concave inner surfaces of stereotype plates.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 52,323, led October 1, 1948, entitled Stereotype Plate Finishing Machine, now Patent No. 2,626,541.

Particular advantages of the machine of the present invention include improved apparatus for supporting a plate for sliding endwise movement onto the saddle or support on which it is carried during the nishing operation; improved plate clamping apparatus for securing the plate on the supporting saddle and improved apparatus for bringing the plate into registry so as to insure that the finishing operations are correctly correlated to the type on the plate.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Fig. l is a right side elevation of the machine with part of the housing structure in section;

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the machine; p

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the machine taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the machine taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front end elevation of the machine, partly in section, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken, respectively, along the lines Ii--G and 'i-l of Fig. 3;

Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, sectional views of the side register cutter unit taken, respectively, along the lines 8--8 and 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line Ill-I of Fig. 8;

Fig. 1l is a sectional View taken along the line II-II of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line I2-I2 of Figs. 1 and 11.

, Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a stereotype plate A of generally semi-cylindrical form is carried on a cylindrical saddle I. The saddle I is journalled at each end by journal extensions 2 and 3,

respectively, engaging bearings 4 and 5, which` are secured to the main frame 6 of the machine. The saddle I has longitudinal side openings X and Y in its opposite sides to permit the passage of the cutters I therethrough (Figs. 2, 3 and 11).

Four cutters 1 are mounted on a cutter bar 8.

The machine is powered by a motor 9 contained in a recess in the base of the main frame '-6-on asupport In which is adjustable by means of a turn buckle I0 to adjust the tension on the drive belts (Figs. 1, 3 and 4). Power is transmitted from the motor 9 to the driven parts of the machine through V belts engaging a moto pulley I I and a pulley I2 on a shaft I3.

Each of the cutters l is fixed to the upper end of a vertically extending cutter spindle I4 journalled in the cutter bar 'I and driven from the horizontal shaft I3 through bevel gears I5 and I6 (Fig. 11). Cutter bar 8 is pivoted to swing about a horizontal axis in the main frame by bearings l and I at its opposite ends. The cutter bar oscillates from side to side of the machine and extends its cutters 'l out through the saddle openings X and Y to engage the plate A and mill pockets therein. Oscillatory motion is imparted to the cutter bar 8 by a roller Il carried by a crank arm I8 engaging a slot track I9 secured to the front end of the cutter bar 8 and extending radially of the axis about which the cutter bar oscillates (Fig. 3). lThe crank arm I8 is xed to the inner end of a shaft 2l) journalled Within a tubular bearing 2| slidably tted Within the journal extension 2 of the saddle I and secured to the machine frame by a ange 22 and bolts 23 (Figs. 3 and 5). A crank 24 is xed to shaft 20 outside the bearing 2l, and the end of the shaft 20 is squared at 25 to receive a hand Wrench or crank which may be inserted through an opening 25 in the platform bracket 5l, as indicated at I26. The shaft 2i! may be manually turned slightly in order to move the cutters 1 out of engagement with a plate A in the event the machine should stop while the cutters engage a plate. It is inadvisable to start the machine with the cutters engaging a plate and this arrangement enables the operator to avoid so starting the machine under load. The power mechanism which oscillates the shaft 2li includes a spring connection to be described which permits this manual movement of the cutter bar when the power drive is stationary.

Limited adjustment of the saddle I about the axis of its journals 2 and 3 for registry of a saddle carried plate is provided by an adjustment ring 2S which is mounted to rotate in a shouldered recess in the outer surface of the fixed ilange 22 of the bearing 2| (Fig. 3). The ring 26 carries laterally projecting ears 2 which iit into slots in guides 28 that are secured to the front end of the saddle I (Figs. 5 and 6). A cross shaft 29 journalled in brackets 3i) on the main frame 6 carries hand wheels 3l on its opposite ends and is xed against axial movement by engagement of the hubs of the hand wheels with the brackets 3|. The shaft 29 is threaded along its central portion which engages a threaded transverse opening in a pin 32 mounted in spaced ears 33 extending radially downward from the bottom .of vthe .ring 2B. Rotation of the shaft 29 by either hand wheel 3l turns the saddle I about the axis of its bearings without interfering with endwise reciprocation of the saddle during which the guides 28 slide on the ears 21 of the ring '25.

Longitudinal adjustment `of #the ysaddle `I for plate registry is provided for Kby a hand wheel 34 at the back end of the machine. The shaft 35 of this hand wheel is xed against .axial .movement in an adaptor 36 which is slidably fitted within the saddle journal extension .3 .and keyed .against rotation with respect thereto, as shown in Fig. 3- The inner end of the shaft 35 threadedly engages a tapped opening in the saddle journal extension 3. The adaptor 36 is pivotally connected to the bifurcated upper end of a lever r3] which moves the 'saddle endwise during Vnia- -chine operation, as will be explained.

The .crank k24 of the cutter bar .oscillating .shaft :20 -is .pivotally connected to the upper end :of connecting rod 3.8. The rod 38 slidably lengages a tubular fitting '3B 4rotatably .secured .to .a .crank All 'fixed to vthe low speed shaft 4I. Two coiled springs 4.2 are carried by the rod -38 von Vopposite sides `of the tting 39 and .their .outer ends engage collars 213 fixed Ito the rod. With this yarrangement one rotation of the shaft lll raises kand lowers :the :connecting rod 38 and so .swings the fcutter fbar .3 first to one side of the saddle I and 4then to the other, the springs i2 taking up the excess `motion o'f the crank d!! when the outward movement :of .the cutter bar is arrested -by .one `of the adjustable .stop `screws I (Figs. 4 and. '11). Adjustment of the lscrews f5I .regulates the depth to `which pockets vare milled in the plate A by the cutters 1.

The shaft #I Vis driven from the high 'speed shaft yI3 through the worm reduction gear train M -45, Hi- 41 (Fig. 6),the speed of the shaft 4I being Vsuiiicientiy reduced from that ofthe shaft I3 that a single lrevolution of the shaft III :com- `-pletes one plate iinishing cycle `of the machine. Aibarrel cam -48 is fixed to the rearward end -of the .shaft 4I. A cam follower 4'9 on the 'lower end of lever 31 engages the cam 4'8. 'The 'lever 131 is pivoted to 4the main frame `i5 at 5D. Oscillation of the lever .31 by the 'cam 138 slides the saddle I back and forth endwise of the machine.

The `relation between vthe cutter bar loscillating rdrive and the plate saddle lreciprocating drive is suchthat the cutter bar :8 is Arst moved to one extreme tilted position tto move the cutters 1 .into the plate A, then the plate is .moved longitudinally by the 'saddle .I in one direction, then while `the saddle is at rest at vone extreme position, vthe `cutter bar swings to its extrem-e opposite tilted position to move the cutters into the opposite side of the plate, and then the plate is moved by the saddle in the opposite direction. The cycle ends `with the movement of the cutter bar yto .an Aintermediate position to withdraw the cutters 1 :from the .pockets last cut and the Aoperation of the machine is stopped at Vthis point by a motor vcleenergizing limit switch 52 `operated by a cam v53 attached tothe .inner face of the 'barrel cam 48.

A'trough 54 is provided in the main frame beneath the cutter .bar .8 and a conveyor :screw `55 .on ythe slow speed shaft '4I carries plate chips from this trough into ya removable chip pan 56.

.A loading platform -is provided a-t the iront end .of the .machine and comprises a platigrm bracket 51 attached to the frame 6 by four shoulder screws 58 passing through vertically elongated slots in the bracket (Fig. 5). The upper portion of the platform bracket is provided with spaced parallel track grooves 59 for :the reception of the side edges of a plate A. A screw G0 threaded into the bearing 4 and provided with a stop nut 6I permits vertical adjustment of the platform bracket -51 so that a stereotype plate of predetermined dimensions may slide directly from .the platform onto the saddle I, coming to rest against the stops 32 secured to the saddle (Fig. 4). This adjustable feature also permits lowering of the platform to permit the milling of double length plates which overhang the end of the saddle when pockets are milled in the opposits end thereof.

The mechanism for clamping the plate on the .saddle includes two brackets t3 attached to each side of the saddle and carrying pivots for the lower ends vof four clamp sectors =61 (Figs. 1.,-4, 5 vand 1.1). A clamp toggle is pivotally secured to the upper ends of .the sector S4 .on the lef-t side 4of the machine, .as viewed in Fig. (11, and each of the sectors 64 on the right .hand side is `pivotally secured to an eye bolt 66, the opposite end of which is pivotally lattached to the `clamp toggle .E5 at :31. The inner Isurfaces of the sectors 64 are lined with yielding material, such 'as leather stripping 68. The .radius of the inner surface of this stripping -68 is slightly larger than the radius of the outer plate surfaceso that when the clamp toggle 65 is closed, the .sectors 1.64 lare flexed and put pressure on the `plate at-all points where the .stripping 68 contacts it. A vstoppro jection 69 on each sector 64 `comes in contact with an abutment 10 on each bracket 6.3 when clamp toggle 65 is opened, these parts acting Vas stops to limit the pivotal opening `movement -of each sector .64. This insures that -each sector 64 moves substantially the same .distance away from the saddle .I as the oppositely disposed sector so that .all- .sectors .disengage the plate when .the clamp toggle is opened.

.Each sector 84 carries a boss with a tapped hole therein to receive a thumb screw .1 I. The thumb screws TI I .secure transparent guar-ds 1.2 on 'opposite sides of the saddle I over saddle openings Xand Y. The guards 12 may be for-med of fsuitable transparent plastic material. 'Ihey prevent injury to an operator if the machine operates without a plate A on the saddle I, in which event the unprotected cutters extend through the openings X and Y. The guards 'I2 are transparent to permit the passage therethrough of light ,beams that project register limages onto the plate, and the `observation of such images and -of register marks on the plate by the operator. In order'to prevent clinking -of stereotype V:plate metal to the cutters 1, means are provided for applying a small amount of lubricant to each cutter at .one point in each operating cycle. A plunger type lubricator 14 of known construction is 'secured to the machine iramenearone side of the rear end thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The operating arm 15 of the lubricator, which acts in za l:known manner to discharge a predetermined Aamount .of lubricant through the flexible hose 1:6 each time it is oscillated, is disposed in the path of 'an :arm 11 xed to the lever 31 and is cscillated thereby once in .each cycle of machine operation. -4The hose`16 conducts the .lubricant through .ra .connector 18 secured to .the rearward `end tof Athe saddle .and a rigid tube 1:9 tofour Ts a0. eachpf one of the cutters 1 when the cutter bar 8 is in an intermediate position tilting toward the right side of the saddle, as viewed in Fig. 4. Each T carries a metering nozzle 8| which directs lubricant onto the adjacent cutter The intermittent operation of the lubricator operating arm '|5 by the lever 31 is so timed that a limited amount l of lubricant is ejected from the nozzles 8| when the cutters 'I are beneath these nozzles.

Particularly in multi-color printing, it is important that one end of each plate shall have flat surfaces finished to precise dimensions with respect to the type thereon in order to maintain proper side register between plates in a color series. For this purpose a side register cutter unit E is provided, the construction and mounting of which are shown in Figs. 3, 7, 8, 9 and 10. The unit E includes a gear housing 82 with a dove-tail extension 83 which slides in a slide plate 84 secured to the cutter bar 8 (Fig. 10) The gear housing 82 carries an extension 85 that extends within the cutter bar 8 and embraces the rearmost cutter spindle |l (Fig. 8). Two end-face cutters 86 and 8l are rotatably carried by the housing 82 and are driven from the cutter spindle I4 through the gears 88, 8-9, 90 and 9|, and a shaft 92 and bevel gears 93 and 94. The cutters S8 and 8l are so disposed that when the housing 82 is in position to eiect engagement of the bevel gear 93 with the spindle carried bevel gear 94, the cutters 86 and 81 move to positions where they finish flats on the opposite sides of the plate ends when moved across the plate ends by the cutter bar 8. The ats thus nished are used to abut stops on the plate cylinder of a press and so accurately locate the plate longitudinally of the cylinder. Openings 95 and 95, which are extensions of the openings X and Y, are provided at opposite sides of the saddle to receive the cutters 86 and 87 of the unit E, and guards 91 and 98 are removably attached to the saddle to guard the cutters as th'ey swing through the openings.

When longitudinal registry of the plate is not required, as when the plate is used for printing in one color, the unit E is moved downward on the slide plate 84 so as to disengage the bevel gear 93 from the bevel gear 94 and retract the cutters 86 and 8l tov positions where they do not engage the plate A. Y This retracted and inoperar tive position of the unit E is illustrated by broken lines in Fig. 8. A screw 99 is rotatably carried by and xed against axial movement'in a block |00 xed to the gear housing 82. The threaded lower end of the screw 99 engages a tapped opening in a block |0| fixed to the slide plate 84. Operation of the screw 99 moves the unit E between its operative and retracted positions.

When the machine is employed to iinish plates for multi-color printing, it is important that the plate pockets formed by the cutters 1 and which are engaged by plate clamping mechanism on the press cylinder be disposed in the same circumferential relation to the printing typeon the face of the plate in each plate Imaking up a color series. It is likewise important that the iiats produced by the side register cutter unit E of each plate of the series be equally spaced longitudinally of the plate from the type. For this purpose means are provided for projecting indicator marks onto the outer surface of the plate whereby each plate in the series can be moved by adjustment of the saddle to a position where register marks (which are cast with the type or otherwise fixed with relation to the type during manufacture of the plate) are aligned with the projected indicator marks. l

Four indicator units U are disposed at points respectively adjacent the four corners of a plate A mounted on the saddle These units are adjustably movable longitudinally of the plate'and circumferentially thereof and the construction of the several units and their mounting means is substantially identical. Two support rails |02 are respectively carried by machine frame pad extensions |03 at opposite sides of the machine (Figs. 2, 4, 1l and 12). Each support rail |02 carries two slide brackets |04 adjacent its opposite ends. Each slide bracket |04 may be locked against sliding movement along the rail |02 by clamp bolts |05. Each slide bracket |04 is adjustably movable along its rail by a screw |06 threadedly engaging an upwardly extending part of the slide bracket. Each screw |06 has an operating knob |08 and is rotatably mounted in but held against axial movement with respect to a bracket |0`| xed to the rail |02. A scale |09 is secured to the rail |02 and permits setting of the bracket |04. An arcuate rack segment is ixed to each slide bracket |02 and extends upwardly therefrom along an arc concentric with the plate A on the saddle A projector unit is carried by a bracket which is slidably adjustable along each rack segment H0. A pinion ||2 operated by a knob ||3 on a shaft ||4 journalled in the bracket engages the rack teeth of the segment H0 for moving the bracket and projector unit along the segment, and a clamp screw H5 threaded in an opening in the bracket engages the segment and xes the bracket in its adjusted position.

Each projector unit U includes a lamp ||8 in a housing and a projection tube ||8 having its axis aligned with the lamp filament. Cross hairs or other like indicator image-forming means are etched on the inner lens H9 of the tube 8 and the lenses are adjusted to project the image on the surface of the plate A. The projected light beam passes through the transparent guard 'l2 (Fig. 1l). A scale |28 is provided along each rack segment ||0 and these, with the scales |09 on the rails |02, permit the operatorv to take readings of the projector unit settings for each plate series so that duplicate plates of one series can be accurately finished even after the projector units have been moved to iinish a different series of plates.

Since there are several' points of possible lost motion in the mechanism that reciprocates the saddle longitudinally ofthe plate axis, means are provided for taking up all of this motion in the same direction at the time the machine is at rest and a plate is being adjusted for registry. This position of rest is illustrated in Fig. 3 where the saddle is in its extreme left-hand position. Two pins |2| are respectively carried in horizontal openings |23 at diametrically opposite points in saddle bearing 4 atl the front end of the machine. Springs |22 surround these pins and are compressed between shoulders on the pins and shoulder sleeves in the openings so as to force the pins to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 and against the end of the saddle I, taking up all lost motion in one direction when the saddle is adjusted by the knobs 3| and 34 to bring a plate into registry. Shoulders at the rearward ends of the openings limit the outward movement of the pins |2| by engagement with the pin shoulders.

With a plate A clamped in place on the saddle the operator sets the projector units to the desired position and brings the plate into registry by adjustment horizontally and circumferentially with the knobs 31 and '34. The motor Y9 is then started and it brings the pocket cutter 7 and the side register unit cutters '86 and 81 up to .speed 'as V:the shaft 4l begins to turn slowly. As ythe shaft 41 turns, the -cutters 'l are rst carried from the starting position shown in full Vlines in Fig. 11 to positions in which they move out of the opening Y at the right side of the machine, `as viewed in that igu-re, and start to -mill pockets yin `that :side of the plate. At the same time, the side register unit E moves its cutter 81 to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 7. During the dwell of the cutters in this tilted position, the barrel cam 48 moves the saddle .i and plate to the right as viewed in Fig. 3 for a distance appropriate to mill pockets of `the desired length. At the same time the rearward -end tace of the plate near its corner comes in contact with the cutter 81 and a flat .surface is finished thereon. Continued rotation of the shaft lt-I moves the cutter bar 8 back through its central position, completing the iinishing `of the side register fiat by the cutter 81 (Fig. 7). Then the -cutter bar 8 l moves to the left side, as viewed -in Figs. 7 and 1.1 causing `the cutter 86 to `i'inish a vdat for side registry near the opposite corner of the plate, and moving the cutters 1 into the plate to start .pockets in `its opposite side, as shown in broken lines in Fig. l11. The barrel cam #l which has held the saddle l stationary during this transverse movement of the cutters now moves the saddle i and `plate A to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, back .to its starting position to mill pockets of the desired length in the opposite side Iof the plate. Thecycle is then ended vby movement of lthe vcutter bar 8 t0 a central position, whereupon the'motor .9 is deenergized by the switch 52 operated vby the cam 53.

Duplicate plates .of `the series are .similarly finished, each being rst brought into registry with the images projected .by the units U which remain .in .the positions where they were when registered with the points |25 on the rst plate n of the Aseries `(Fig. 12). If end registry is not required, the vunit E' is .retracted to inoperative position, as has been explained.

We claim:

11. A stereotype plate finishing .machine comprising .in combination .a frame, a longitudinally extending cylindrical plate supporting saddle carried :bysaid frame, a loading platform carried by said frame adjacent one end of said saddle,

8 two parallel longitudinally extending grooves forming tracks on said loading platform extending parallel to the axis of said saddle adjacent spaced points near but outside the periphery of the saddle for slidably supporting the side edges of a substantially semi-cylindrical stereotype plate to be loaded on said saddle, land means for Aadjustably moving said loading platform transversely of the axis of said saddle to align plates carried by said platform tracks with said saddle.

2. A stereotype plate iinishing machine comprising in combination a frame, a cylindrical saddle carried by said frame, and means for releasably clamping a substantially semi-cylindrical stereotype plate to said saddle comprising at least two elongated arcuate members disposed in circumferential alignment about said saddle, means for pivotally securing the remote yends of said members to said saddle, an expansible toggle `clamp connecting the adjacent ends of said members and inter-engaging stops xed to saidsaddle and to said members yadjacent said pivotal securing means for limiting the movement of said members outwardly from said saddle when said toggle clamp is expanded.

3. A stereotype plate finishing machine comprising in combination a frame, a cylindrical saddle carried by said frame, and means for releasably clamping a substantially semi-cylindrical stereotype plate to said saddle comprising at least two elongated arcuate .clamp members disposed .in circumferential alignment about said saddle, hinges secured to said saddle and pivotally secured to the remote ends of said members, Aan expansible clamp connecting the adjacent .endsof said members and nxed stops :on said hinges for limiting the movement of said-members outwardly from said saddle when said .clamp is expanded.

CHARLES L. RICARDS. ISIDOR TORNBERG. PAUL L. TOLLISON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 'Number Name Date 1,134,798 `Wood Apr. 6, 1915 1,269,239 Wood June 11, '1918 1,974,606 Fassin Sept. 25, 1924 2,168,548 Wood Aug. 8, 1939 2,187,106 Tornberg Jan. 16, 1940 2,204,523 Wood June 11, 1'940 y2,574,118 Mottu Nov. v6, 1951 

